Norman Gurley
| Norman Gurley | |
| FR Co. Exec | Official Photographer ? - ? |
| FR Soc. Director | 1958 - 1963 |
Norman was a stalwart of both the Railway and the Society for many years. He was involved with the London Area Group (LAG) committee from the outset and was for some years the Working Party Organiser before giving up his day job with Scamell lories in Watford as a progress chaser and moving up to North Wales permanently. The LAG was always associated with permanent way work so it was fitting that Norman should become a platelayer on his move to Wales. However, from the beginning of his time on the staff he worked when needed in the busiest weeks for traffic as a booking clerk or guard. In his early years on the FR he shared houses with other members of staff, one of which was on the Garth in Porthmadog.
He was a keen photographer and took countless pictures of the Railway, both in black and white and in colour. His pictures have graced many a railway publication and, indeed, continue to do so. He was the Official Photographer for the Railway, and compiled the photographic album Narrow Gauge Steam Out of Portmadoc [1]. He was also involved with the production and distribution of the FR Magazine and was listed for many years as joint editor with Dan Wilson.
Norman was a Director of FR Society from 1958 until 1963, when he resigned on taking up his permanent staff post as platelayer.
Norman was commonly the driver of the Wickham trolley in the mid nineteen sixties. It was stored overnight in the Porthmadog goods shed and he would drive it to at least Minfford, where the ganger Ron Lester lived in the station, picking up staff and volunteers from Boston Lodge, Bron Madoc crossing etc. Norman often wore a beret which was unusual among the flat caps of the PW gang. He was very dedicated to the FR. He used to say that when he started working on the FR you could afford only one of house/car/wife. Later when the wages improved a little he would say that FR staff could afford only 2 of wife/house/car. His choice was a cottage in Llan Ffestiniog and a mini van.
Towards the end of his P Way work he concentrated on the new line from Dduallt to Blaenau. After he stopped doing permanent way work he was to be seen in the booking offices and working for Ffestiniog Travel. He later semi retired and spent the winter months in New Zealand where his sister and her family live, but, for the summer, he was back in Wales again.
Sadly, Norman died in 2004. His ashes are scattered by the lineside at Tunnel South at a spot which can be seen across the valley from his house in Llan Ffestiniog. Look for a triangular memorial slate on the hill-side at the start of Tunnel South Cutting, just up the line from the gabion boxes.[2][3]
- ^ Gurley, Norman F. (1980). Narrow Gauge Steam Out of Portmadoc. Truro, Cornwall, England: D Bradford Barton. ISBN 0-85153-380-9. OCLC 16483893.
- ^ Ffestiniog Railway Magazine - Society House Magazine Issue No: 057 , page(s): 024 , Personal Portrait
- ^ Ffestiniog Railway Magazine - Society House Magazine Issue No: 185 , page(s): 260 , Obituary
